A conversation about the challenges faced today by heritage, people, non-governmental organisations and local government in the field of protection and management from the perspective of Krakow. The catalogue of these challenges is long. Some of them we know well, they have been with us for years, others have appeared recently, caused by the pandemic and geopolitical situation.
Civilization pressures and conflicts have a profound effect on urban planning and control – where are we today? Tourism. Resilience. Climate. The role of Krakow towards Central Europe. These are selected threads of discussion with Robert Piaskowski, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of the City of Kraków for Culture and Prof. Dr Jacek Purchla, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and President of the TMHiZK. Moderation: Dr Katarzyna Jagodzińska, Head of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Kraków.
Biographical notes
Dr Katarzyna Jagodzińska is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, head of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub for Central and Eastern Europe and first Director for Programming in the Toy Museum in Krakow. Previously worked at various positions at the International Cultural Centre in Krakow. She is art historian and journalist, specialises in museums studies and cultural heritage. Her current research project addresses participation and democratisation of museums. Author of five books on museums (including ‘Museums and Centers of Contemporary Art in Central Europe after 1989’, Routledge, 2020) and co-author of Europa Nostra report ‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’.
Prof. Dr Jacek Purchla is a Vice-President of Europa Nostra since 2018. Polish Art Historian and Economist, Professor of Humanities, a member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the founder of the International Cultural Centre in Krakow, and was its director since its inception in 1991 until 2018. He is the head of the Department of Economic and Social History and the UNESCO Chair for Heritage and Urban Studies at the Kraków University of Economics. He specialises in urban studies, social and art history, as well as the theory and protection of cultural heritage. Between 2016 and 2017 he was the President of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. He is a member of many organizations and associations including The Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage he is a current president. He is the author of over 400 academic works, including a number of books published in many languages.
Robert Piaskowski is the Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Krakow for Cultural Affairs, director of strategic development in the Department of Culture and National Heritage of the City of Cracow, manager, animator of culture, and sociologist. He studied literature, sociology, social sciences, and cultural diplomacy at the Jagiellonian University, University of Provence Aix-Marseille, and at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. He is a co-author of the Krakow Culture policy and is responsible for the implementation of flagship industry programmes for specific cultural sectors. On behalf of the mayor of Krakow, he is responsible for supporting Krakow’s cultural sector for war-stricken Ukraine and its cultural heritage.